Nicola Sturgeon: it's a question of 'when not if' indyref2 is held

May 10, 2021

Sam Shedden

Engagement Editor

Good morning,

Welcome to (a slightly late) Monday newsletter from The Scotsman.

We were blown away by how many of you joined us on Friday and Saturday as we dissected the election results and analysed what the composition of the next Holyrood parliament means for the nation. Thank you.

There is still much to pick through.

We're barely out of the weekend and already the debate around the constitutional issue has ramped up. A campaign to save the union by holding on to “middle Scotland” is to be launched by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown to counter Nicola Sturgeon’s demand for a second independence referendum in the wake of her election victory.

Will it work? Tell us your thoughts in the article comments.

The SNP were denied an outright majority but as their supporters rightly point out, the party had yet another very successful election and, with the Greens, can create a pro-independence majority. Yet, collectively, the unionist parties had some cause for celebration as the results of the Holyrood election were unveiled on Friday and Saturday.

Polling guru Professor John Curtice explores how the SNP was denied a majority by tactical voting.

If you value what we do, consider subscribing to us from just 18p a day for a whole year of quality Scottish journalism. Use SCOTELEC21 at checkout out for a huge 25% off all annual subscriptions - but hurry, offer ends Thursday.

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Stepping away from politics, Alison Campsie explored the history of Scotland's illegal whisky making industry in Scotland On Sunday. It's a fascinating read. The scale of illicit whisky making up until the 19th Century has now been revealed as an archaeologist takes to the hills in search of stills embedded deep in the landscape.

And coronavirus, remember that? We've grown so accustomed to lockdown life it can be easy to forget we still do not have all our freedoms back yet. Nicola Sturgeon is to announce further coronavirus easing very soon.

Thanks for reading, more headlines below.

Sam Shedden


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